the deputy of arcis-第12章

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This　answer　was　made；　not　so　much　to　Vinet　as　to　Madame　Beauvisage；　who　had　entered　the　room　with　her　daughter　and　was　now　beginning　to　offer　her　congratulations　on　the　event。　In　order　to　escape　indirect　appeals　and　pointed　interpretations　of　careless　words；　Madame　Beauvisage　took　a　vacant　place　at　a　whist…table　and　devoted　her　mind　to　the　winning　of　one　hundred　fishes。　One　hundred　fishes；　or　counters；　made　fifty　sous！　When　a　player　had　lost　that　sum　it　was　talked　of　in　Arcis　for　a　couple　of　days。

Cecile　went　to　talk　with　Mademoiselle　Mollot；　one　of　her　good　friends；　appearing　to　be　seized　with　redoubled　affection　for　her。　Mademoiselle　Mollot　was　the　beauty　of　Arcis；　just　as　Cecile　was　the　heiress。　Monsieur　Mollot；　clerk　of　the　court；　lived　on　the　Grande…Place　in　a　house　constructed　in　the　same　manner　as　that　of　Beauvisage　on　the　Place　du　Pont。　Madame　Mollot；　forever　seated　at　the　window　of　her　salon　on　the　ground…floor；　was　attacked　（as　the　result　of　that　situation）　by　intense；　acute；　insatiable　curiosity；　now　become　a　chronic　and　inveterate　disease。　The　moment　a　peasant　entered　the　square　from　the　road　to　Brienne　she　saw　him；　and　watched　to　see　what　business　could　have　brought　him　to　Arcis；　she　had　no　peace　of　mind　until　that　peasant　was　explained。　She　spent　her　life　in　judging　the　events；　men；　things；　and　households　of　Arcis。

The　ambition　of　the　house　of　Mollot；　father；　mother；　and　daughter；　was　to　marry　Ernestine　（an　only　daughter）　to　Antonin　Goulard。　Consequently　the　refusal　of　the　Beauvisage　parents　to　entertain　the　proposals　of　the　sub…prefect　had　tightened　the　bonds　of　friendship　between　the　two　families。

〃There's　an　impatient　man！〃　said　Ernestine　to　Cecile；　indicating　Simon　Giguet。　〃He　wants　to　come　and　talk　with　us；　but　every　one　who　comes　in　feels　bound　to　congratulate　him。　I've　heard　him　say　fifty　times　already：　'It　is；　I　think；　less　to　me　than　to　my　father　that　this　compliment　of　my　fellow…citizens　has　been　paid；　but；　in　any　case；　pray　believe　that　I　shall　be　devoted　not　only　to　our　general　interests　but　to　yours　individually。'　I　can　guess　those　words　by　the　motion　of　his　lips；　and　all　the　while　he　is　looking　at　you　with　an　air　of　martyrdom。〃

〃Ernestine；〃　replied　Cecile；　〃don't　leave　me　the　whole　evening；　I　don't　want　to　listen　to　his　proposals　made　under　cover　of　'alases！'　and　mingled　with　sighs。〃

〃Don't　you　want　to　be　the　wife　of　a　Keeper　of　the　Seals？〃

〃Ah！　that's　all　nonsense；〃　said　Cecile；　laughing。

〃But　I　assure　you；〃　persisted　Ernestine；　〃that　just　before　you　came　in　Monsieur　Godivet；　the　registrar；　was　declaring　with　enthusiasm　that　Simon　would　be　Keeper　of　the　Seals　in　three　years。〃

〃Do　they　count　on　the　influence　of　the　Comte　de　Gondreville？〃　asked　the　sub…prefect；　coming　up　to　the　two　girls　and　guessing　that　they　were　making　fun　of　his　friend　Giguet。

〃Ah！　Monsieur　Antonin；〃　said　the　handsome　Ernestine；　〃you　who　promised　my　mother　to　find　out　all　about　the　/stranger/；　what　have　you　heard　about　him？〃

〃The　events　of　to…day；　Mademoiselle；　are　so　much　more　important；〃　said　Antonin；　taking　a　seat　beside　Cecile；　like　a　diplomat　delighted　to　escape　general　attention　by　conversing　with　two　girls。　〃All　my　career　as　sub…prefect　or　prefect　is　at　stake。〃

〃What！　I　thought　you　allowed　your　friend　Simon　to　be　nominated　unanimously。〃

〃Simon　is　my　friend；　but　the　government　is　my　master；　and　I　expect　to　do　my　best　to　prevent　Simon　from　being　elected。　And　here　comes　Madame　Mollot；　who　owes　me　her　concurrence　as　the　wife　of　a　man　whose　functions　attach　him　to　the　government。〃

〃I　am　sure　we　ask　nothing　better　than　to　be　on　your　side；〃　replied　the　sheriff's　wife。　〃Mollot　has　told　me；〃　she　continued　in　a　low　voice；　〃what　took　place　here　to…dayit　is　pitiable！　Only　one　man　showed　talent；　and　that　was　Achille　Pigoult。　Everybody　agrees　that　he　would　make　a　fine　orator　in　the　Chamber；　and　therefore；　though　he　has　nothing；　and　my　daughter　has　a　/dot/　of　sixty　thousand　francs；　not　to　speak　of　what；　as　an　only　child；　she　will　inherit　from　us　and　also　from　her　uncle　at　Mollot　and　from　my　aunt　Lambert　at　Troyes；well；　I　declare　to　you　that　if　Monsieur　Achille　Pigoult　did　us　the　honor　to　ask　her　to　wife；　I　should　give　her　to　him；　yes；　I　shouldprovided　always　she　liked　him。　But　the　silly　little　goose　wants　to　marry　as　she　pleases；　it　is　Mademoiselle　Beauvisage　who　puts　such　notions　into　her　head。〃

The　sub…prefect　received　this　double　broadside　like　a　man　who　knows　he　has　thirty　thousand　francs　a　year；　and　expects　a　prefecture。

〃Mademoiselle　is　right；〃　he　said；　looking　at　Cecile；　〃she　is　rich　enough　to　make　a　marriage　of　love。〃

〃Don't　let　us　talk　about　marriage；〃　said　Ernestine；　〃it　saddens　my　poor　dear　Cecile；　who　was　owning　to　me　just　now　that　in　order　not　to　be　married　for　her　money；　but　for　herself；　she　should　like　an　affair　with　some　stranger　who　knew　nothing　of　Arcis　and　her　future　expectations　as　Lady　Croesus；　and　would　spin　her　a　romance　to　end　in　true　love　and　a　marriage。〃

〃That's　a　very　pretty　idea！〃　cried　Olivier　Vinet；　joining　the　group　of　young　ladies　in　order　to　get　away　from　the　partisans　of　Simon；　the　idol　of　the　day。　〃I　always　knew　that　Mademoiselle　had　as　much　sense　as　money。〃

〃And；〃　continued　Ernestine；　〃she　has　selected　for　the　hero　of　her　romance〃

〃Oh！〃　interrupted　Madame　Mollot；　〃an　old　man　of　fifty！fie！〃

〃How　do　you　know　he　is　fifty？〃　asked　Olivier　Vinet；　laughing。

〃How？〃　replied　Madame　Mollot。　〃Why；　this　morning　I　was　so　puzzled　that　I　got　out　my　opera…glass〃

〃Bravo！〃　cried　the　superintendent　of　/ponts　et　chaussees/；　who　was　paying　court　to　the　mother　to　obtain　the　daughter。

〃And　so；〃　continued　Madame　Mollot；　〃I　was　able　to　see　him　shaving；　with　such　elegant　razors！mounted　in　gold；　or　silver…gilt！〃

〃Gold！　gold；　of　course！〃　said　Vinet。　〃When　things　are　unknown　they　should　always　be　imagined　of　the　finest　quality。　Consequently　I；　not　having　seen　this　gentleman；　am　perfectly　sure　that　he　is　at　least　a　count。〃

This　speech　created　a　laugh；　and　the　laughing　group　excited　the　jealousy　of　a　group　of　dowagers　and　the　attention　of　a　troop　of　men　in　black　who　surrounded　Simon　Giguet。　As　for　the　latter；　he　was　chafing　in　despair　at　not　being　able　to　lay　his　fortune　and　his　future　at　the　feet　of　the　rich　Cecile。

〃Yes；〃　continued　Vinet；　〃a　man　distinguished　for　his　birth；　for　his　manners；　his　fortune；　his　equipages；a　lion；　a　dandy；　a　yellow…kid…　glover！〃

〃Monsieur　Olivier；〃　said　Ernestine；　〃he　drives　the　prettiest　tilbury　you　ever　saw。〃

〃What？　Antonin；　you　never　told　me　he　had　a　tilbury　when　we　were　talking　about　that　conspirator　this　morning。　A　tilbury！　Why；　that's　an　extenuating　circumstance；　he　can't　be　a　republican。〃

〃Mesdemoiselles；　there　is　nothing　that　I　will　not　do　in　the　interests　of　your　amusement；〃　said　Antonin　Goulard。　〃I　will　instantly　proceed　to　ascertain　if　this　individual　is　a　count；　and　if　he　is；　what　kind　of　count。〃

〃You　can　make　a　report　upon　him；〃　said　the　superintendent　of　bridges。

〃For　the　use　of　all　future　sub…prefects；〃　added　Olivier　Vinet。

〃How　can　you　do　it？〃　asked　Madame　Mollot。

〃Oh！〃　replied　the　sub…prefect；　〃ask　Mademoiselle　Beauvisage　whom　she　would　accept　as　her　husband　among　all　of　us　here　present；　she　will　not　answer。　Allow　me　the　same　discretion。　Mesdemoiselles；　restrain　your　anxiety；　in　ten　minutes　you　shall　know　whether　the　Unknown　is　a　count　or　a　commercial　traveller。〃



X

THE　REVELATIONS　OF　AN　OPERA…GLASS

Antonin　Goulard　left　the　little　group　of　young　ladies；　in　which；　besides　Cecile　and　Ernestine；　were　Mademoiselle　Berton；　daughter　of　the　tax…collector；an　insignificant　young　person　who　played　the　part　of　satellite　to　Cecile；and　Mademoiselle　Herbelot；　sister　of　the　second　notary　of　Arcis；　an　old　maid　of　thirty；　soured；　affected；　and　dressed　like　all　old　maids；　for　she　wore；　over　a　bombazine　gown；　an　embroidered　fichu；　the　corners　of　which；　gathered　to　the　front　of　the　bodice；　were　knotted　together　after　the　well…known　fashion　under　the　Terror。

〃Julien；〃　said　the　sub…prefect　to　his　valet；　who　was　waiting　in　the　antechamber；　〃you　who　served　six　years　at　Gondreville　ought　to　know　how　a　count's　coronet　is　made。〃

〃Yes；　monsieur；　it　has　pearls　on　its　nine　points。〃

〃Very　good。　Go　to　the　Mulet；　and　try　to　clap　your　eye　on　the　tilbury　of　the　gentleman　who　is　stopping　there；　and　then　come　and　tell　me　what　is　painted　on　it。　Do　your　business　thoroughly；　and　bring　me　all　the　gossip　of　the　inn。　If　you　see　the　little　groom；　ask　him　at　what　hour　to…morrow　his　master　can　receive　the　sub…prefectin　case　you　find　the　nine　pearls。　Don't　drink；　don't　gossip　yourself；　and　come　back　quickly；　and　as　soon　as　you　get　back　let　me　know　it　by　coming　to　the　door　of　the　salon。〃

〃Yes；　monsieur。〃

The　Mulet　inn；　as　we　have　already　said；　stands　on　the　square；　at　the　opposite　corner　to　the　garden　wall　of　the　Marion　estate　on　the　other　side　of　the　road　leading　to　Brienne。　Therefore　the　solution　of　the　problem　could　be　rapid。　Antonin　Goulard　returned　to　his　place　by　Cecile　to　await　results。

〃We　talked　so　much　about　the　stranger　yesterday　that　I　dreamed　of　him　all　night；〃　said　Madame　Mollot。

〃Ha！　ha！　do　you　still　dream　of　unknown　heroes；　fair　lady？〃　said　Vinet。

〃You　are　very　impertinent；　if　I　chose　I　could　make　you　dream　of　me；〃　she　retorted。　〃So　this　morning　when　I　rose〃

It　may　not　be　useless　to　say　that　Madame　Mollot　was　considered　a　clever　woman　in　Arcis；　that　is；　she　expressed　herself　fluently　and　abused　that　advantage。　A　Parisian；　wandering　by　chance　into　these　regions；　like　the　Unknown；　would　have　thought　her　excessively　garrulous。

〃I　was；　naturally；　making　my　toilet；　and　as　I　looked　mechanically　about　me〃

〃Through　the　window？〃　asked　Antonin。

〃Certainly；　my　dressing…room　opens　on　the　street。　Now　you　know；　of　course；　that　Poupart　has　put　the　stranger　into　one　of　the　rooms　exactly　opposite　to　mine〃

〃One　room；　mamma！〃　interrupted　Ernestine。　〃The　count　occupies　three　rooms！　The　little　groom；　dressed　all　in　black；　is　in　the　first。　They　have　made　a　salon　of　the　next；　and　the　Unknown　sleeps　in　the　third。〃

〃Then　he　has　half　the　rooms　in　the　inn；〃　remarked　Mademoiselle　Herbelot。

〃Well；　young　ladies；　and　what　has　that　to　do　with　his　person？〃　said　Madame　Mollot；　sharply；　not　pleased　at　the　interruption。　〃I　am　talking　of　the　man　himself〃

〃Don't　interrupt　the　orator；〃　put　in　Vinet。

〃As　I　was　stooping〃

〃Seated？〃　asked　Antonin。

〃Madame　was　of　course　as　she　naturally　would　be；making　her　toilet　and　looking　at　the　Mulet；〃　said　Vinet。

In　the　provinces　such　jokes　are　prized；　for　people　have　so　long　said　everything　to　each　other　that　they　have　recourse　at　last　to　the　sort　of　nonsense　our　fathers　indulged　in　before　the　introduction　of　English　hypocrisy；one　of　those　products　against　which　custom…houses　are　powerless。

〃Don't　interrupt　the　orator；〃　repeated　Cecile　Beauvisage　to　Vinet；　with　whom　she　exchanged　a　smile。

〃My　eyes　involuntarily　fell　on　the　window　of　the　room　in　which　the　stranger　had　slept　the　night　before。　I　don't　know　what　time　he　went　to　bed；　although　I　was　awake　till　past　midnight；　but　I　have　the　misfortune　to　be　married　to　a　man　who　snores　fit　to　crack　the　planks　and　the　rafters。　If　I　fall　asleep　first；　oh！　I　sleep　so　sound　nothing　can　wake　me；　but　if　Mollot　drops　off　first　my　n